If you work at a computer for any length of time, the odds are good that you'll be interrupted by your mobile device. It's fairly easy to just mute it, but sometimes you need to act on a text or call that comes your way. DeskNotifier sends notifications from your Android device to your Windows computer. Here's how to use it:

The first time you run the Android app, you will be directed to turn it on in the Accessibility settings. It can't operate if you don't do this, but it's a painless operation.

The first time you run the Windows app, you'll need to take care of some bookkeeping, such as which language you prefer and whether to start the app at launch (recommended).

You will also need to enter the IP address of your Android device every time you launch; fortunately, the Android app lists it near the bottom of the main screen. (You can also just use a USB cable, but this isn't practical for everyone.)

Once the setup is all taken care of, you should start to get notifications pushed to your desktop. They don't take up much space and they don't linger long, but it's easy to clear them if they do get in your way. DeskNotifier sample notification popup.
Rob Lightner/CNET

One neat feature is that you can reply to texts or send new ones from your desktop. If a text pops up, just click the notification to reply. You can also right-click the DeskNotifier icon in the system tray and select New SMS to send a new text.

That's it! DeskNotifier is handy for people who need to avoid the temptation of their mobile devices, or those who want to dive into a text conversation without alerting the boss.